Lead levels in tissues of animals slaughtered in Ismailia slaughterhouse

ABSTRACT

Liver, kidney and muscle samples from a total number of 246 animals of cattle [73], buffaloes [74], camels [37], sheep and goats [62] aging from one to 7 years old were collected and analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer for estimation of lead residues. According to the Egyptian Standards [ES] [2360/2007], lead concentrations in buffalo and cow muscles were generally low and far away from the maximum residual limit. On the other hand, 18.75% of both kidneys and livers, 68.75% of muscles of slaughtered ole camels and 52.4% of young camel muscles contained residual lead more than the permissible limit. Meanwhile, most of the examined samples of old sheep and goats and half of sheep and goats under three years contained residual lead more than the permissible limit in their tissues. There was a significant [P<0.05] increase in lead concentration in relation to the age in case of all of the examined animals except for female buffaloes. Also there was a significant [P<0.05] linear relationship between the concentrations of lead in livers and kidneys for the same animal